Vehicle equipment for autonomous vehicle enhancement system

• US 10,663,308 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2018
• Issued: 05/26/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arnold Chase, William Chase
• Original Assignee: Arnold Chase, William Chase
• Inventors: Chase, Arnold, Chase, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Elchanti, Hussein
• Application Number:
  US15/974,048
• Publication Number:
  US 20180321674A1
• Time in Patent Office: 749 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3438 Rendez-vous, i.e. searching a destination where several users can meet, and the routes to this destination for these users; Ride sharing, i.e. searching a route such that at least two users can share a vehicle for at least part of the route
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3492 employing speed data or traffic data, e.g. real-time or historical traffic control systems for road vehicles involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0022 characterised by the communication link data switching networks in general H04L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0027 involving a plurality of vehicles, e.g. fleet or convoy travelling fleet control of land vehicles from a control room G05D1/0297; traffic control systems for road vehicles G08G1/00; for marine craft G08G3/00; for aircraft G08G5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0055 with safety arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0088 characterized by the autonomous decision making process, e.g. artificial intelligence, predefined behaviours using knowledge based models G06N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0212 with means for defining a desired trajectory involving a plurality of land vehicles G05D1/0287
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0276 using signals provided by a source external to the vehicle involving a plurality of vehicles G05D1/0287; automatically controlling vehicle speed responsive to externally generated signals B60K31/0058
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0291 Fleet control monitoring fleets in traffic control systems for road vehicles G08G1/127, G08G1/127
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0297 by controlling means in a control room
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/76 Architectures of general purpose stored program computers with program plugboard G06F15/08; multicomputers G06F15/16
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 20/00 Machine learning
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 5/01 Dynamic search techniques; Heuristics; Dynamic trees; Branch-and-bound
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 5/02 Knowledge representation; Symbolic representation
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 5/022 Knowledge engineering; Knowledge acquisition
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/59 : inside of a vehicle, e.g. relating to seat occupancy, driver state or inner lighting conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 : communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/005 : including pedestrian guidance indicator
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/012 : from other sources than vehicle or roadside beacons, e.g. mobile networks
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0175 : by photographing vehicles, e.g. when violating traffic rules
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/202 : Dispatching vehicles on the basis of a location, e.g. taxi dispatching
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/22 : Procedures used during a speech recognition process, e.g. man-machine dialogue
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2015/223 : Execution procedure of a spoken command
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 : for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 : using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/188 : Capturing isolated or intermittent images triggered by the occurrence of a predetermined event, e.g. an object reaching a predetermined position signal generation from motion picture films H04N5/253
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 : Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/72 : Subscriber identity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/44 : for communication between vehicles and infrastructures, e.g. vehicle-to-cloud [V2C] or vehicle-to-home [V2H]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 : Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]

Abstract

The present application is directed to an Autonomous Vehicle Enhancement System (AVES) and method for monitoring and managing a virtual or existing fleet of autonomous vehicles in a transportation network and dispatching the autonomous vehicles to users. The AVES includes an AVES Central Operations Center (COC) that communicates with AVES vehicle equipment installed in the autonomous vehicles and AVES applications installed on computing devices accessible by the users. The AVES improves the operating efficiency of a transportation network by monitoring the condition of autonomous vehicles, optimizing the geographical distribution of the autonomous vehicles and optimizing assignment of the autonomous vehicles to users requesting services. The AVES COC monitors and controls the autonomous vehicles via the AVES vehicle equipment. The AVES COC communicates with the users via the AVES applications to provide services to the users. The AVES vehicle equipment and the AVES applications installed on the computing devices communicate with each other to fulfill user request for services.

Claims

1. Autonomous Vehicle Enhancement System (AVES) vehicle equipment configured to be installed on an autonomous vehicle, comprising:

an AVES vehicle control system configured to be operably connected to a vehicle computer system of the autonomous vehicle, the AVES vehicle control system being in communication with an AVES Central Operations Center (COC);

an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system including a microphone and speaker, the IVR being operatively connected to the AVES vehicle control system for communicating with the AVES COC; and

an interactive touchscreen operatively connected to the AVES vehicle control system for communicating with the AVES COC;

wherein the AVES vehicle control system transmits a vehicle ID, real-time vehicle location, real-time vehicle availability, real-time vehicle operational state, real-time vehicle condition and real-time vehicle fuel/power-charge level to the AVES COC;

wherein the AVES vehicle control system receives from the AVES COC an assigned user trip request including unique trip ID, trip PIN and trip information;

wherein the trip information includes pickup location, pickup date/time, destination location, any intermediate stop location(s) and trip route;

wherein the AVES vehicle control system guides the autonomous vehicle to the pickup location at the pickup time by transmitting to the vehicle computer system of the autonomous vehicle at least one of the trip information and driving commands;

wherein the IVR system and/or the interactive touchscreen identifies the unique trip ID and prompts the user for the trip PIN to authenticate the trip request; and

wherein the AVES vehicle control system guides the autonomous vehicle along the trip route after receiving the trip from the user and authenticating the trip request.

2. The AVES vehicle equipment according to claim 1, further comprising a 360°

scanning antenna that scans for a signal encoded with the unique trip ID, which is transmitted by an AVES application executed on a user device.

3. The AVES vehicle equipment according to claim 2, wherein the AVES vehicle control system detects the signal encoded with the unique trip ID, guides the autonomous vehicle toward the user device, stops the autonomous vehicle and unlocks the doors of the autonomous vehicle at a pre-determined signal level.

4. The AVES vehicle equipment according to claim 1, further comprising an interior video camera operatively connected to the AVES vehicle control system for sending images of the interior of the autonomous vehicle to the AVES COC.

5. The AVES vehicle equipment according to claim 4, wherein at least one of the IVR system and the interactive touchscreen receives a user emergency alert and sends the user emergency alert to the AVES COC;

and

wherein the AVES vehicle control system initiates an emergency protocol where the interior video camera and the IVR are activated so that AVES COC can assess the user emergency.

6. The AVES vehicle equipment according to claim 1, further comprising an omni-directional signal emitter that transmits a signal encoded with the unique trip ID to be received by the AVES application executed on the user device.

7. The AVES vehicle equipment according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the IVR system and the interactive touchscreen receives a modification request from the user to alter the trip information and sends the modification request to alter the trip information to the AVES COC.

8. The AVES vehicle equipment according to claim 1, wherein the AVES vehicle control system receives an altered trip route from the AVES COC;

and

wherein at least one of the IVR system and the interactive touchscreen prompts the user to accept or reject the altered trip route.

9. The AVES vehicle equipment according to claim 1, wherein when the autonomous vehicle arrives at the destination location or intermediate stop location, at least one of the IVR system and the interactive touchscreen prompts the user to confirm whether the user wishes to terminate the trip, wishes for the autonomous vehicle to wait for the user to return to the autonomous vehicle, or wishes to go to a new destination.

10. The AVES vehicle equipment according to claim 9, wherein if the AVES vehicle control system does not receive user confirmation about whether the user wishes to terminate the trip, wishes for the autonomous vehicle to wait for the user to return to the autonomous vehicle, or wishes to go to a new destination, an interior video camera and the IVR are activated so that AVES COC can assess whether the user is still present in the autonomous vehicle.

11. The AVES vehicle equipment according to claim 1, wherein if the AVES vehicle control system detects that the autonomous vehicle is disabled or that the autonomous vehicle has an operational malfunction, the AVES vehicle control system activates the autonomous vehicle'"'"'s hazard flashers, notifies the AVES COC that the autonomous vehicle is disabled or that the autonomous vehicle has an operational malfunction, activates an interior video camera and/or an exterior video camera in the autonomous vehicle and attempts to guide the autonomous vehicle to a safe location.

12. The AVES vehicle equipment according to claim 1, wherein if the AVES vehicle control system loses communication with the AVES COC, the AVES vehicle control system guides the autonomous vehicle to complete the trip route and stores the trip information in a local memory for billing purposes.

13. The AVES vehicle equipment according to claim 1, further comprising a trunk video camera and/or one or more trunk sensors operatively connected to the AVES vehicle control system for determining whether items are present in the trunk of the autonomous vehicle.

14. A method of guiding an autonomous vehicle, comprising the steps of:

providing Autonomous Vehicle Enhancement System (AVES) vehicle equipment configured to be installed on an autonomous vehicle;

wherein the AVES vehicle equipment comprises;

an AVES vehicle control system configured to be operably connected to a vehicle computer system of the autonomous vehicle, the AVES vehicle control system being in communication with an AVES Central Operations Center (COC);

an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system including a microphone and speaker, the IVR being operatively connected to the AVES vehicle control system for communicating with the AVES COC; and

an interactive touchscreen operatively connected to the AVES vehicle control system for communicating with the AVES COC;

the AVES vehicle control system transmitting a vehicle ID, real-time vehicle location, real-time vehicle availability, real-time vehicle operational state, real-time vehicle condition and real-time vehicle fuel/power-charge level to the AVES COC;

the AVES vehicle control system receiving from the AVES COC an assigned user trip request including unique trip ID, trip PIN and trip information;

wherein the trip information includes pickup location, pickup date/time, destination location, any intermediate stop location(s) and trip route;

wherein the AVES vehicle control system guiding the autonomous vehicle to the pickup location at the pickup time by transmitting to the vehicle computer system of the autonomous vehicle at least one of the trip information and driving commands;

the IVR system and/or the interactive touchscreen identifying the unique trip ID and prompting the user for the trip PIN to authenticate the trip request; and

the AVES vehicle control system guiding the autonomous vehicle along the trip route after receiving the trip from the user and authenticating the trip request.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the AVES vehicle equipment further comprises a 360°

scanning antenna; and

further comprising the step of;

the scanning antenna scanning for a signal encoded with the unique trip ID, which is transmitted by an AVES application executed on a user device.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising the step of:

the AVES vehicle control system detecting the signal encoded with the unique trip ID, guiding the autonomous vehicle toward the user device, stopping the autonomous vehicle and unlocking the doors of the autonomous vehicle at a pre-determined signal level.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein the AVES vehicle equipment further comprises an interior video camera operatively connected to the AVES vehicle control system for sending images of the interior of the autonomous vehicle to the AVES COC.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

at least one of the IVR system and the interactive touchscreen receiving a user emergency alert and sending the user emergency alert to the AVES COC; and

the AVES vehicle control system initiating an emergency protocol where the interior video camera and the IVR are activated so that AVES COC can assess the user emergency.

19. The method according to claim 14, wherein the AVES vehicle equipment further comprises a signal emitter;

and

further comprising the step of;

the emitter transmitting a signal encoded with the unique trip ID to be received by the AVES application executed on the user device.

20. The method according to claim 14, further comprising the step of:

at least one of the IVR system and the interactive touchscreen receiving a modification request from the user to alter the trip information and sending the modification request to alter the trip information to the AVES COC.

21. The method according to claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

the AVES vehicle control system receiving an altered trip route from the AVES COC; and

at least one of the IVR system and the interactive touchscreen prompting the user to accept or reject the altered trip route.

22. The method according to claim 14, further comprising the step of:

when the autonomous vehicle arrives at the destination location or intermediate stop location, at least one of the IVR system and the interactive touchscreen prompting the user to confirm whether the user wishes to terminate the trip, wishes for the autonomous vehicle to wait for the user to return to the autonomous vehicle, or wishes to go to a new destination.

23. The method according to claim 22, further comprising the steps of:

if the AVES vehicle control system does not receive user confirmation about whether the user wishes to terminate the trip, wishes for the autonomous vehicle to wait for the user to return to the autonomous vehicle, or wishes to go to a new destination, the AVES vehicle control system activating an interior video camera and the IVR so that AVES COC can assess whether the user is still present in the autonomous vehicle.

24. The method according to claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

if the AVES vehicle control system detects that the autonomous vehicle is disabled or that the autonomous vehicle has an operational malfunction, the AVES vehicle control system activating the autonomous vehicle'"'"'s hazard flashers, notifying the AVES COC that the autonomous vehicle is disabled or that the autonomous vehicle has an operational malfunction, the AVES vehicle control system activating an interior video camera and/or an exterior video camera in the autonomous vehicle and attempting to guide the autonomous vehicle to a safe location.

25. The AVES vehicle equipment according to claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

if the AVES vehicle control system loses communication with the AVES COC, the AVES vehicle control system guiding the autonomous vehicle to complete the trip route and storing the trip information in a local memory for billing purposes.

26. The method according to claim 14, wherein the AVES vehicle equipment further comprises a trunk video camera and/or one or more trunk sensors operatively connected to the AVES vehicle control system for determining whether items are present in the trunk of the autonomous vehicle;

and

and further comprising the step of;

the AVES vehicle control system receiving a signal from the trunk video camera and/or one or more trunk sensors indicating that an item is present in the trunk of the autonomous vehicle.